Golf ball



I Jan. 5, 1943. L. A. YOUNG 7 2,307,182

GGGGGG LL w j INVENTOR. J Ila/i304 ram a TTORNEYS WWW Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT= OFFICE GOLF BALL Leonard A. Young, Detroit, Mich. I Application June 2, 1941, Serial No. 396,246

10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in golf balls.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a golf ball which may be economically produced and at the same time has highly desirable qualities of distance, accuracy of flight, and feel.

Second, to provide a golf ball having these characteristics which isycapable of being produced at low cost and which permits the use of standard types of existing-machinery in its manufacture.

Third, to provide a golf :ball having a liquid center which is of long life and not subject in manufacture or in use to certain disadvantages of liquid center golf balls as now manufactured.

Fourth, to provide a golf ball having a high degree of compressibility and liveliness in leaving the club face by reason of the structure which results in a plurality of air filled pockets, thereby greatly increasing the air compression capacity of the .ball as compared to golf balls of the type now on the market, that is, balls which are largely composed of rubber strands wound around a liquid center or a molded rubber winding center.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will definitely appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A golf ball embodying the features of the invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged view partially broken away and in central section of a golf ball embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the inner body member or element of my improved ball.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on a line corresponding to line 3-3 of Fig. 2 of a hemispherical section of the inner body member.

Fig. 4 is a View in section of the inner body member of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

It is my opinion that the liveliness and distance of golf balls is due or attributable in a large measure to the existence of numerous air pockets resulting from the interstices of the winding of the resilient fiber strands commonly employed in In the golf ball of my invention I provide an inner main body element or member formed of molded rubber or other resilient elastic material having on its external surface air pockets which provide for pocketing a relatively large volume of air quite uniformly distributed within the ball. In my opinion this results in the extreme rapidity with which the ball reacts from the face of the club and in the distance.

Further, in the manufacture of golf balls having so-called liquid centers, considerable loss and deterioration is experienced through the liquid leaking from its encasing shell or partially escaping and resulting in the balls becoming useless or unbalanced, or otherwise undesirable for play.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated I designates the ball generally, which is provided with a liquid center in the form of a spherical rubber casing or sack 2 filled with liquid 3.

Honey has been found to be a desirable liquid and one which does not rot or deteriorate the rubber, and it has the desired properties of weight or specific gravity. However, other materials such as certain vegetable oils may be used.

I provide an inner spherical body member 4 which has an internal spherically walled chamber 5 in which the liquid filled core 2 closely fits. This inner body member is preferably formed of two hemispherical sections 6 of molded rubber,

the sections being put together to form the sphere and vulcanized or otherwise treated to forms. sealed joint or bond 1 which in effect makes this inner element 4 a one-piece element. The inner body member is preferably of a diameter of approximately 1 /8 inches and its center chamber 5 is preferably of a diameter of one-half an inch.

The entire outer surface of the member 4 is provided with uniformly Spaced air pockets or recesses 8 of substantial size. In the preferred embodiment these recesses are of truncated frusto-conical shape which has the advantage of facilitating freeing of the parts from'the mold when they are formed. The shape is also believed to be of substantial importance in the completed article, but recesses of other shapes may be employed with satisfactory results.

In this embodiment illustrated the recesses or pockets 8 are of a radial depth of approximately /8 of an inch and taper from a diameter of ap proximately A; of an inch at the periphery of the member 4 to a diameter of 1% of an inch at their bottoms. While these dimensions may vary con siderably I have found this size and shape to produce ,very desirable results.

It should be noted that the recesses do not extend radially through the wall of the inner body member but that there is a substantial radial thickness of approximately T 1; of an inch in the embodiment illustrated from the bottom of the recesses to the chamber. This provides full advantage of the compressibility of the rubber body element in addition to the compressibility of the air in the individual pockets.

Resilient rubber strand material 9 is wound on the inner body member to provide .a concentric layer of such strand material of substantial thick-. ness and which closes the pockets as well as providing an efiective resilient active outer body layer or element. The rubber strand material is wound under tension as is usual practice in golf;

ball making and is effectively supported .by the inner body member. The walls of the air 'pockets= or recesses are of sumcient thickness thattheyare not materially distorted by the tension stresses of the strand material.

The cover II] is applied in.the usual manner and thismay be ofrbalata or other suitable cover stock.-

Golf balls en'ibodying my invention -may be very economically produced, less of the relatively expensive rubber strand material being required than for the common type'of golf ball. Further, improved action results which I attributeto. the considerable volume of trapped air. in the pockets; twelve times as much asthe volumeof aiixbetween the interstices of the usual winding.

The ball'is permanently'well balanced andis not subject to the loss of the liquid core material-as. it is so encasedthat it cannot escape.

unless the ballis injured to suchan extent as to renderituselesst A furtheradvantage isthat the time consumed in winding is substantially reduced.

Inthe embodiment shown in Fig. ithe inner body member II is' provided with a central spherically walled air pocket I2. If desired, how ever, aweighting core may'be placed. in this pocket l2. This embodiment of Fig.4. is somewhat more economical than that of. Figs. 1 to 3, but it lacks the-liquid center feature.

While theinner molded-ball member is preferably formedof two sections, both-as an advantage in molding and also in enclosing the liquid coreor center therein; it may be formed inother section and thesections assembled; or, it .is possible to mold it-in one piece with the external air pockets. In thatcase a weighting core can be incorporated.

The dimensions stated produce very desirable results but these. may be considerably varied,- particularly the diameter-of the inner body member and-the wound strandlayer, this depending somewhat on the particular objects sought.

I haveimentioned that thesack 5 is preferably formed ofrubber. It should: be borne in mind that the-liquidmay be placed in capsules forconvenience in assembling.

It will be understood thatthe compression test resistance of the body member 4 may be varied but it should be complementary to the compression test of the winding and this is easily obtained-that is, the character of the resilient molded body member 4 may be made suchthat the completed ball meets the desired compression test.

Embodiments of the invention which incorporate the principles of i the invention in a highly desirable manner have been'illustrated anddescribed. Itshould be understoodthat the.fore- I estimate that this-volume is atleast going terminology is used descriptively rather than in a limiting sense, and with full intention to include equivalents of the features shown and described, within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf ball comprising a yieldably resilient spherical inner body element of molded rubber in the order. of 1%; inches in diameter and having a central spherically walled deformable chamber in the order of one-half inch in diameter, said inner body element having on its outer surface ,;a:multiplieity of uniformly spaced frusto-conical air pockets of a radial depth in the order of A; inch and tapering to the order of inch at the bottom thereof, aflexible liquid filled spherical core element encased in said inner body element and filling the said chamber thereof, and an outer body element .of rubber. strand. material wound under tension directly on said inner body elementto providea layer of such strand material of uniform andsubstantialfthickness overlying and sealing said air pockets, the walls .of said .air pockets being radially yieldable but of such thickness as to resist substantial distortion by laterally bending under the winding'stress of said. strand material. while resiliently compressible under a blowof agolf club, the radial thickness of the material of saidbody elementinwardly of said pockets being substantially inexcess of the radial thickness of thepockets.

2. A golf ball comprising a-yieldably' resilient hollow spherical inner body.element.of j molded rubber. defining. a.central deformable chamber, said inner body element having on its .outer surface a multiplicity of uniformly spaced air pockets, aflexible liquid filled spherical core element encased in said. inner. body element and filling the said chamber thereof, and an outer body element-of rubber strandmaterial wound under tension directly on said innerbody element to provide a layer of such strandmaterial of uniform and. substantial thickness overlyingand sealing said airpockets, the. walls of saidair pockets being radially yieldable butof such thickness as to resist substantial distortion by laterally bending under the winding stress. of said strand material while resiliently compressible under a blow of agolfclub, the. radial thickness of the material of said bodyelement inwardly of said pockets being substantially in excess of the radial thickness of the pockets,

3. A golf ball comprising a molded yieldably resilient sphericalinner body element having a central spherically walled deformable chamber, said inner body element having on its outer sur face a multiplicity of uniformly spaced air pockets, a flexible liquid filled spherical core element encased in said inner body.element and filling the said chamber thereof, and an outer body element of rubber strand materiaLwound under tension directly on said inner body.element to provide a layer of such strand materialof-uni- 4. A golf ball comprising a yieldably resilient spherical inner body element of molded rubber having a central deformable chamber, said inner body element having on its outer surface a multiplicity of uniformly spaced frusto-conical air pockets of a radial depth in the order of inch and tapering to the order of inch at the bottom thereof, and an outer body element of rubber strand material Wound under tension directly on said inner body element to provide a layer of such strand material of uniform and substantial thickness overlying and sealing said air pockets, the walls of said air pockets being of such thickness as to resist substantial distortion by laterally bending under the tension stress of said strand material while resiliently yieldable radially under the blow of a golf club, the radial thickness of the material of said body element inwardly of said pockets being substantially in excess of the radial thickness of the pockets.

5. A golf ball comprising a yieldably resilient spherical inner body element of molded rubber having a central deformable chamber, said inner body element having on its outer surface a multiplicity of uniformly spaced air pockets, and

an outer body element of rubber strand material wound under tension directly on said inner body element to provide a layer of such strand material of uniform and. substantial thickness overlying and sealing said air pockets, the walls of said air pockets being of such thickness as to resist substantial distortion by laterally bending under the tension stress of said strand material while resiliently yieldable radially under the blow of a golf club, the radial thickness of the material of said body element inwardly of said pockets being substantially in excess of the radial thickness of the pockets.

6. In a playing ball of the type described, a hollow resilient spherical inner body member having walls of substantial radial thickness and encasing centrally thereof a liquid and provided on its outer surface with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced frusto-conical air filled recesses, and rubber strand material wound under tension directly on said inner body member to a substantial depth so as to externally cover and close said air filled recesses, the material of the said inner body member radially intermediate the inner ends of said recesses and the center of said inner body member being of radial dimension substantially in excess of the radial dimension of the recesses and being compressible when the ball is struck, the air in said recesses being likewise compressible, there being a substantial amount of material between said recesses constituting thick side walls therefor not subject to substantial lateral collapse.

'7. In a playing ball of the type described, a resilient inner body member of substantial diameter having the outer surface thereof provided with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced frusto-' conical recesses extending only partially through the radial thickness of said body member and leaving a substantially greater radial thickness of body member material radially inwardly of the inner extremities thereof than the radial dimension of said recesses, and rubber strand material wound under tension directly on said inner body member to overlie and close said recesses to provide closed air filled pockets of substantial size which are substantially compressible when the ball is struck, there being a substantial amount of material between said recesses constituting thick side walls therefor not subject to substantial lateral collapse.

8. In a playing ball of the type described, a hollow resilient spherical inner body member of substantial diameter defining deformable center chamber and provided on its outer surface with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced frusto-conical air filled recesses, and rubber strand material wound under tension directly on said inner body member to a substantial depth so as to externally cover and close said air filled recesses, the material of the said inner body member radiallyintermediate the inner ends of said recesses and the center of said inner body member being. of radial dimension substantially in excess of "the radiahdimension of the recesses and being compressible when the ball is struck, the air in said recesses being likewise compressible and the center chamber deformable by the impact.

9. In a playing ball of the type described, a resilient inner body member of substantial diameter having the outer surface thereof provided with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced recesses extending only partially through the radial thickness of said body member and leaving a substantially greater radial thickness of body member material radially inwardly of the inner extremities thereof than the radial dimension of said recesses, and rubber strand material wound under tension directly on said inner body member to overlie and close said recesses to provide closed air filled pockets of substantial size which are substantially compressible when the ball is struck, there being a substantial amount of material between said recesses constituting thick side walls therefor not subject tosubstantial lateral collapse.

10. In a playing ball of the type described, a hollow resilient spherical inner body element of molded rubber having walls of substantial radial thickness and encasing centrally thereof a liquid and provided on its outer surface with a multiplicity of uniformly spaced air pocket recesses, the material of the said body member radially intermediate the inner ends of said recesses and the liquid encased within said member substantially exceeding in radial thickness the radial dimension of said recesses, and rubber strand material wound under tension directly on said inner body member to a substantial depth so as to externally cover and close the air pocket recesses, there being a substantial amount of material between said recesses constituting thick side walls therefor not subject to substantial lateral collapse.

LEONARD A. YOUNG. 

